Tales of the Good

[jabberwocky]

My only “lost something out of my seat bag” story is not as good. I didn’t fully zip the flap after leaving the house, and I didn’t notice until I was 2 miles from my house. What made me notice was the clanging noise my shorty 15mm wrench made when it bounced onto the W&OD. The only other thing that was missing was my Topeak Alien multi tool, which isn’t especially valuable, but has some sentimental value because it was literally the first thing I bought other than my bike when I started riding in 2003. I was late so I didn’t go back and look, but when I rode home at the end of the day I kept an eye out for it, and fortunately I found it had been sitting on the shoulder of Fairfax County Parkway all day. Still sort of amazed that not a single car hit it (it was right on the yellow line that defines the edge of the lane).

As for tales of kind strangers, I’ve been on the receiving end and giving end numerous times. I’ve stopped and given people tubes/patches/mechanical help dozens of times over the years, and had many people help me as well.

My most lucky story was a mountain biking one: I was riding Schaeffer Farms with a group of friends on my old Turner 5 Spot. We had ridden there from Black Hill (an adjacent park). Way out at the far end of the loop, I crashed and ripped the hanger off my bike. I quickly realized that I a) did not have another hanger with me and b) was 10 miles from car. I started walking back towards the Schaeffer lot and got literally about 100 yards before a friend on solo ride came up on me and asked why I was walking. This friend just happened to be one of the only other Turner riders in the DC area, and he also happened to have a hanger with him. What are the odds?

[KLizotte]

A couple of weeks ago when we were in the throes of the heat wave and I was stupidly riding at mid-day, I stopped on Ft Hunt road to fiddle with my GPS. All of a sudden I hear “are you all right, are you all right?”. A woman across the street and up the hill was in her yard calling to me. I responded that I was fine and only checking a map and she responded “oh, ok, just checking because it is so hot out.” It really made my day.

[lordofthemark]

Tales of bike unfriendly businesses

I was gonna post this some time ago, but didnt – this seems like an apt thread, sorry if my story is a downer.

My wife was going to head to NYC for the weekend.We are a one car family, and I had some errands on the weekend I needed the car for. She was going to take Megabus. At the last minute – late friday afternoon, while I am teleworking – she announces that she is taking the car. But I can to go our nearby Enterprise rent a car – she has found that they have one of their weekend specials in effect. I don’t want to leave during my work day, so I decide to wait till about 5PM to go pick it up. She’s already gone, so I will walk over.

I call them and find out what I forgot, that they close at 6PM. That is going to make walking a close thing. But, AHA, I have a BIKE! I call them and ask if they have bike parking. “Oh, sure”. I bike over, wearing my helmet, and my backpack with my Ulock. I will lock it for the weekend.

I get there and this shopping center has no bike parking. I ask if maybe they have some in back, but they say no. They dont want me to leave my bike inside their store. I could take it over to some places I know do have bike parking, but I will run out of time to get the car. Okay, so I will put the bike IN the car. Even though its a compact and that will be the usual frustrating process.

The guy takes me the car, parked between two other cars. “er, I can’t put the bike in that way”. He takes it out to the lane in front of the shops. Well okay, now its physically possible to get the bike in, but Im blocking the lane and folks are driving there and getting upset. So I hurry to get the bike in, and drive off.

The next day I realize, I left my back pack, my u lock, and my helmet on the sidewalk. I drive by, and its not there. When Enterprise reopens we go to ask them, but they havent seen it.

I am now borrowing my daughter’s helmet (we currently only have one bike, so..) bought a cable lock (I know, but Ive been careful about where I lock up, plus its an old cheap bike) and have been riding with minimal stuff.

I would think a car rental just MIGHT be bike friendly, but I guess not.

[dasgeh]

@lordofthemark 59564 wrote:

But I can to go our nearby Enterprise rent a car

Ugh. Isn’t Enterprise the company that will pick you up?

Seriously, I’d bang out a letter to the company (you’re 90% of the way there). Since they told you they had bike parking, they should have done more to help you. The very least they can do is a discount next time.

[lordofthemark]

@dasgeh 59572 wrote:

Ugh. Isn’t Enterprise the company that will pick you up?

Oh I forget to mention that part – I was delaying till 5 on the assumption they could pick me up (I may have known they closed at 6, I dont remember now). When I called for the pick up they said they were too busy. Thats when I decided to bike over.

[krazygl00]

Tales of the Good

@lordofthemark 59564 wrote:

Tales of bike unfriendly businesses

[HR][/HR]
[IMG]http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=382&d=1214037416[/IMG]

And after only 4 posts!

[rcannon100]

Well I will bring the thread back.

About a week ago I got drafted by some dude going over the 14th Street bridge. Turns out it was Dana. So on the Virginia end of the 14th St bridge we stop and talk about this and that (Capital Bikeshare, quibbling on the forum, threads getting hijacked). All of a sudden a couple comes across the bridge, walking, map in hand, holding it upside down. Dana, who is by far far more of a gentleman than I, asks if by chance he could be of assistance.

“Yah!” they said with good German accents, “Can you tell us how to get to the Pentagon.”

After attempting to explain to them how to navigate the hump back bridge, Dana finally says, “I’ll be glad to show you” and proceeds to walk them towards the trail towards the Pentagon.

And as I biked away, all I could think of was….. (start at 1 min 15 sec)

[video=youtube_share;zo2MyIGZFkg]http://youtu.be/zo2MyIGZFkg?t=1m15s[/video]

[TwoWheelsDC]

Two weeks ago, coming home from the Freshbikes Tuesday ride with Meg, I had some extra energy so I decided to go for a PR up the 11th St hill by Westover Park. I raced up the hill, nearly making my heart explode, then crossed Patrick Henry where I stopped to wait for Meg. A gentleman who was out on his porch, seeing me struggling for breath and looking very tired and sweaty, kindly offered me something to drink. I had my own water, so I didn’t need the drink, but I explained why I was so winded and we ended up chatting for a minute about that cruel hill.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@rcannon100 59589 wrote:

“Yah!” they said with good German accents, “Can you tell us how to get to the Pentagon.”

After attempting to explain to them how to navigate the hump back bridge, Dana finally says, “I’ll be glad to show you” and proceeds to walk them towards the trail towards the Pentagon.

I’ve had this same thing happen to me at the same location, but with different Germans. Must be the German maps. A forum member rode by and curtly advised us to get away from the trail. Good times.

[lordofthemark]

I read this as tales of lost items. sorry.

I will try to come up with a feel good story.

[KelOnWheels]

One time I stopped at Caribou Coffee in Shirlington and it was really hot and I was really tired and I went in to get a juice and I didn’t have enough cash in my little phone pocket on my bag so a nice lady gave me some change so I could get my juice without having to dig through my whole bag to find my debit card. Thanks nice lady!

[KelOnWheels]

Another time when I crashed my bike and landed on my head and was sitting in the middle of the sidewalk by the Tidal Basin trying to get my eyes to point in the same direction and hoping that no one would run over my blinky light that wound up in the middle of the road, a nice cyclist stopped and asked if I was OK. Thanks nice cyclist!

[ShawnoftheDread]

Twice when I’ve had flats and was less prepared than I thought I was (broken levers, damaged spare tube, no glue in patch kit), I’ve been helped within a few minutes by passing cyclists. And every other time I’ve been asked several times if I needed help. The trails are alive with the sounds of helpful cyclists.

[KelOnWheels]

Oh and then there was the time cyclingeconomist waited by the 14th St Bridge in the FREEZING cold and dark to look at my derailleur which was not derailling. That was REALLY nice.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@KelOnWheels 59612 wrote:

Oh and then there was the time cyclingeconomist waited by the 14th St Bridge in the FREEZING cold and dark to look at my derailleur which was not derailling. That was REALLY nice.

What ever happened to that guy? He was quite helpful.

[Author]

Posts